Editing International standard

{{Short description|Standard developed by international standards organizations}}
An '''international standard''' is a [[technical standard]] developed by one or more international [[standards organization]]s. International standards are available for consideration and use worldwide. The most prominent such organization is the [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO). Other prominent international standards organizations including the [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU) and the [[International Electrotechnical Commission]] (IEC). Together, these three organizations have formed the [[World Standards Cooperation]] alliance.

==Purpose==
International standards can be applied directly or adapted to meet local conditions. When adopted, they lead to the creation of national standards that are either equivalent to or largely align with the international standards in technical content, though they may have: (i) editorial variations, such as differences in appearance, the use of symbols, measurement units, or the choice of a point over a comma as the decimal marker, and (ii) variations arising from conflicts with government regulations or industry-specific requirements, which may be influenced by factors such as climate, geography, technology, infrastructure, or the safety standards deemed necessary by the relevant authorities.{{cn|date=March 2024}}

International standards are one way to overcome technical barriers in international commerce caused by differences among technical regulations and standards developed independently and separately by each nation, national standards organization, or business. Technical barriers arise when different groups come together, each with a large user base, doing some well established thing that between them is mutually incompatible. Establishing international standards is one way of preventing or overcoming this problem. To support this, the [[World Trade Organization]] (WTO) Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee published the "Six Principles" guiding members in the development of international standards.<ref>{{cite web |title=Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations |url=https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tbt_e/principles_standards_tbt_e.htm |website=wto.org |publisher=World Trade Organization |access-date=20 September 2021}}</ref>

==History==
===Standardization===
[[File:JFIScrewThread300.png|thumb|right|Graphic representation of formulae for the pitches of threads of screw bolts]]
The [[Standardization|implementation of standards]] in industry and commerce became highly important with the onset of the [[Industrial Revolution]] and the need for high-precision [[machine tool]]s and [[interchangeable parts]]. [[Henry Maudslay]] developed the first industrially practical [[screw-cutting lathe]] in 1800, which allowed for the standardisation of [[screw thread]] sizes for the first time.<ref name="Ping">{{citation|url=http://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/stored/pdfs/econwp117.pdf|title=A Brief History of Standards and Standardization Organizations: A Chinese Perspective|author=Wang Ping|publisher=EAST-WEST CENTER WORKING PAPERS|date=April 2011|access-date=2014-01-13|archive-date=2019-06-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190612142253/https://www.eastwestcenter.org/fileadmin/stored/pdfs/econwp117.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Maudslay's work, as well as the contributions of other engineers, accomplished a modest amount of industry [[standardization]]; some companies' in-house standards spread a bit within their industries. [[Joseph Whitworth]]'s screw thread measurements were adopted as the first (unofficial) national standard by companies around the country in <time>1841</time>. It came to be known as the [[British Standard Whitworth]], and was widely adopted in other countries.<ref>Gilbert, K. R., & Galloway, D. F., 1978, "Machine Tools". In C. Singer, et al., (Eds.), ''A history of technology''. Oxford, Clarendon Press & Lee, S. (Ed.), 1900, ''Dictionary of national biography'', Vol LXI. Smith Elder, London</ref>

By <time>the end of the 19th century</time> differences in standards between companies were making trade increasingly difficult and strained. The [[BSI Group|Engineering Standards Committee]] was established in [[London]] in <time>1901</time> as the world's first national standards body.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bsigroup.com/upload/Corporate%20Marketing/Financial%20Performance/BSI_Group_Annual_Report_and_Financial_Statements_2010.pdf |title=BSI Group Annual Report and Financial Statements 2010, page 2|access-date=2012-04-03}}</ref><ref name="Robert C McWilliam 2001">Robert C McWilliam. BSI: The first hundred years. 2001. Thanet Press. London</ref> After the [[First World War]], similar national bodies were established in other countries. The <span lang="de">[[Deutsches Institut für Normung]]</span> was set up in [[Germany]] in <time>1917</time>, followed by its counterparts, the American [[American National Standards Institute|National Standard Institute]] and the French [[AFNOR|<span lang="fr">Commission Permanente de Standardisation</span>]], both in <time>1918</time>.<ref name="Ping"/>

There are not many books that cover standards in general, but a book written in <time>2019</time> by Nicholas Rich and [[Tegwen Malik]] gives a very comprehensive overview of the history of standards, how ISO standards are drafted along with key ISO standards such as ISO 9001 and ISO 14001.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Page|first=Kogan|title=International Standards for Design and Manufacturing|url=https://www.koganpage.com/product/international-standards-for-design-and-manufacturing-9781789660425|access-date=2021-08-22|website=Kogan Page}}</ref> A paper has been published explaining the differences between international standards and [[technical standard|private standards]].<ref>{{cite book |title=International standards and private standards |date=2010 |publisher=International Organization for Standardization |isbn=978-92-67-10518-5 |url=https://docplayer.net/23885374-International-standards-and-private-standards.html |access-date=26 September 2021}}</ref>

===International organizations===
[[File:Colonel R. E. B. Crompton.webp|thumb|right|[[R. E. B. Crompton]] founded one of the first international standards bodies, the [[International Electrotechnical Commission]], in 1906.]]
One of the most well established international standardization organizations is the [[International Telecommunication Union]] (ITU), a [[List of specialized agencies of the United Nations|specialized agency]] of the [[United Nations]] which was founded on 17 May 1865 as the International Telegraph Union. The ITU was initially focused on the [[standardization]] of telegraph signals, and later evolved to include [[telephony]], radio and satellite communications, and other [[information and communication technology]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.itu.int/en/history/Pages/DiscoverITUsHistory.aspx|title = Discover ITU's History}}</ref>

By <time>the mid to late 19th century</time>, efforts were being made to standardize electrical measurement. An important figure was [[R. E. B. Crompton]], who became concerned by the large range of different standards and systems used by electrical engineering companies and scientists in <time>the early 20th century</time>. Many companies had entered the market in <time>the 1890s</time> and all chose their own settings for [[volt]]age, [[frequency]], [[Electric current|current]] and even the symbols used on circuit diagrams. Adjacent buildings would have totally incompatible electrical systems simply because they had been fitted out by different companies. Crompton could see the lack of efficiency in this system and began to consider proposals for an international standard for electric engineering.<ref>[http://www.iec.ch/about/history/articles/colonel_crompton.htm ''Colonel Crompton'', IEC Website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100903145102/http://www.iec.ch/about/history/articles/colonel_crompton.htm |date=2010-09-03}}</ref>

In <time>1904</time>, Crompton represented Britain at the [[Louisiana Purchase Exposition]] in [[St. Louis]] as part of a delegation by the [[Institute of Electrical Engineers]]. He presented a paper on standardisation, which was so well received that he was asked to look into the formation of a commission to oversee the process.<ref>Johnson, J & Randell, W (1948) ''Colonel Crompton and the Evolution of the Electrical Industry'', Longman Green.</ref> By <time>1906</time>, his work was complete and he drew up a permanent constitution for the first international standards organization, the [[International Electrotechnical Commission]] (IEC).<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TAi_QBsTz5UC|title=Encyclopedia of Electrochemical Power Sources|author1=Chris K. Dyer |author2=Patrick T. Moseley |author3=Zempachi Ogumi |author4=David A. J. Rand |author5=Bruno Scrosati Newnes |year=2010|page=540|publisher=Newnes |isbn=9780444527455}}</ref> The body held its first meeting that year in [[London]], with representatives from 14 countries. In honour of his contribution to electrical standardisation, [[Lord Kelvin]] was elected as the body's first President.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.iec.ch/about/history/documents/pdf/IEC_Founding_Meeting_Report_1906.pdf |title=1906 Preliminary Meeting Report |pages=46–48 |work=The minutes from our first meeting |author=IEC |access-date=21 October 2012 |archive-date=2 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502223234/https://www.iec.ch/about/history/documents/pdf/IEC_Founding_Meeting_Report_1906.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[File:Memory plaque of founding ISA in Prague cropped.jpg|thumb|left|Memorial plaque of founding ISA in [[Prague]].]]
The [[International Federation of the National Standardizing Associations]] (ISA) was founded in <time>1926</time> with a broader remit to enhance international cooperation for all technical standards and specifications. The body was suspended in <time>1942</time> during [[World War II|World {{Nowrap|War II}}]].{{cn|date=March 2024}}

After the war, ISA was approached by the recently formed United Nations Standards Coordinating Committee (UNSCC) with a proposal to form a new global standards body. In <time>October 1946</time>, ISA and UNSCC delegates from 25 countries met in [[London]] and agreed to join forces to create the [[International Organization for Standardization]] (ISO); the organization officially began operations in <time style="white-space:nowrap">February 1947</time>.<ref>{{cite book |url=http://www.iso.org/iso/2012_friendship_among_equals.pdf |title=Friendship among equals: Recollections from ISO's first fifty years |publisher=International Organization for Standardization |year=1997 |isbn=92-67-10260-5 |pages=15–18 |access-date=26 December 2013}}</ref>

==Global standards==
Global standards are also referred to as industry or [[technical standard|private standards]], which are designed and developed with the entire world in mind. Unlike international standards, these standards are not developed in [[international organization]]s or [[Standards organization|standards setting organizations (SSO)]] which follow a consensus process. Instead, these standards are developed by [[private sector]] entities, like NGOs and for-profit organizations, often without transparency, openness, or consensus considerations.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kellermann |first1=Martin |title=Ensuring Quality to Gain Access to Global Markets: A Reform Toolkit |date=2019 |publisher=International Bank for Reconstruction and Development / The World Bank and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) |location=Washington, DC |isbn=978-1-4648-1372-6 |pages=45–68 |url=https://thedocs.worldbank.org/en/doc/249621553265195570-0090022019/original/FullQIToolkitReport.pdf |chapter=3.3 Private Standards}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Harmonization (standards)]]
* [[List of international common standards]]
* [[List of technical standard organizations]]
* [[Standards organization]]
* [[Technical standard]]
* [[World Standards Cooperation]]
* [[World Standards Day]] (14 October annually)

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline|International standards}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:International standards| ]]